Safety stop apparatus for engines



Dec. 30, 1930. c, VWASSQNY 1,787,223

SAFETY STOP APPARATUS FOR ENGINES Filed April 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 30', 1930.

SAFETY STOP APPARATUS FOR ENGINES Filed April 20, 1929 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flarry C M7550 A TTORNE Y.

' H. c. WASSQN 1,787,223 1 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY C. WASSON, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 CHICAGO PNEU- MATIC TOOL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SAFETY STOP APPARATUS FOR ENGINES Application filed April 29, 1929. Serial No. 356,648.

This invention relates to that general class of prime movers which have force feed circulation of a medium adapted to lubricate or to 'cool the engine.

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will automatically operate to stop the engine in the event of failure or serious impairment of the circulating system. Another object is to make such apparatus simple and readily applicable to old as well as to new engines. Further objects will be apparent from the detailed description which follows. I

In order to illustrate the invention one 5 concrete embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an engine driven unit;

Fig. 2 is a right end elevational view; and Fig. 3 is an'enlar ed vertical sectional view of the control device.

' The invention is illustrated as embodied in an engine driven compressor unit comprising an internal combustion engine indicated generally at A with cylinders a which is 7 arranged to drive a pump or compressor B. o The engine and the pump may be of any suitable or desired type and in the present instance are shown as mounted upon the same 0 base C. The motive agent for engine shown is manufactured or natural gas which is fed into the-same through a pipe a which connects with a mixing valve or device a to provide the explosive charges for cylinders a. The unit is arranged to be suitably lubricated by a force feed system which includes a pump 12 (Fig. 1) located in the oil sump and the unit may also have a force feed cooling system. Since the details of the engine unit form no part of the present invention further description thereof is omitted. v

The invention involves the utilizing of the pressure in a force feed circulating system of the engine for automatically cutting ofi the -fuel supply when the pressure falls below a' predetermined minimum. To thissend a gravity operated control valve 4 is provided in the fuel conduit a conveniently adjacent- .mixing valve a. As indicated in the enlarged sectional view (Fig. 3) of the control valve,

it comprises a casing 5 having a base with adjusted position by a screw bolt 12. Plunger 9 has an enlarged head 96 in contact with diaphragm 13 forming a part of a fluid tight chamber provided by an enlargement 5a of casing 5. A pipe or conduit 14 subjects the upper part of diaphragm 13.t0 the pressure obtaining in the force feed lubricating system;' Conduit 14 issues from crank case as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and may have therein a gauge 15 to indicate to the operator the amount of pressure in the lubricating system.

From the above it will be apparent that y when the engine unit is not in operation or when the pressure in the lubricating system falls below the pressure predetermined by the adjustment of weight 11 on lever 10, weight 11 will move valve 8 upwardly to closed position and close off the fuel supply admitted through inlet pipe a In starting the engine pressuremay be built up in the lubricating system through the use of a hand pump (not shown) or lever 10 may be suitably secured temporarily in a position to open valve 8. Witlu the engine in operation and normal pressure in the lubricating system the force exerted by such pressure on diaphragm 13 and head 96 of the valve plunger will overcome the gravity control of lever 10 by weight 11. A drop. in pressure in the lubricating system which might mean damage to the engine will effect a positive closing off of the fuel supply and stop the engine until the trouble is remedied.

While the invention has been herein disclosed in what is now considered to be its preferred form, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details thereof, but covers all changes, modifications, and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims. a. I

' tron, 1o

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a prime mover a force feed circulating system, of a having I condult for the motive agent leading to said engine, a valve for closing said conduit including a plunger carrying the-valve proper, a lever having an adjustable weightv for moving said p unger to valve closing posiand means utilizing the pressure in said circulating system to counteract the action of said weight.

2. The combination with a prime mover having a force feed circulating system, of a valve is secured, a lever for actuating said conduit for the motive agent leading to said engine, a .valve for closing said conduit including a plunger carrying the valve proper, a lever having an adjustable weight for moving said plunger to valve closing position, and means including a diaphragm for utilizing the pressure in said circulating system to counteract the action of said weight.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a force feed lubricatingsystem, of a fuel conduit, a valve for closing said conduit, a plunger to which said valve to closing position, a weight adjustably disposed on said lever, an enlarged head on said plunger a casing including said plunger head, a diaphragm in said casing in engagement with said head, and a connection to said casing from said force'feed system for making the pressure in the latter eflective through said diaphragm and plunger to overcome said weight and hold said valve open so long as said pressure exceeds a predetermined minimum.

Signed by me at Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Penn., this 17th day of April, 1929.

HARRY C. WASSON. 

